Culture for a stronger, more secure and resilient EU
Culture Action Europe has sent a letter to the European Commission advocating for the integration of culture into the EU’s policies on defence, security, preparedness, and democracy.
This comes at a time when the European Union is confronting multiple emergencies and follows the announcement of the first-ever Security College by the President of the European Commission.
European countries, such as Finland and Ukraine, already recognise culture as a key element of their security strategies, and the EU should do the same.
The letter highlights how culture is indispensable to the EU’s resilience. First, cultural participation strengthens democracy and social cohesion. Second, the promotion of European cultural content is a strategic defence against disinformation, hybrid threats, and psychological warfare from authoritarian regimes. Third, culture plays a critical role in emergency preparedness by mobilising communities, providing infrastructure for social cohesion, and supporting mental health and well-being.
Culture Action Europe calls on the EU to recognise culture as a strategic pillar within the European Democracy Shield, the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, the White Paper on the Future of European Defence, and the ReArm Europe plan. We advocate for the inclusion of Artistic Freedom in the Rule of Law report.
Culture Action Europe urges the EU to leverage the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) to invest €30 billion in the creation of European cultural content and the strengthening of Europe’s democratic cultural ecosystem. We also call for updating the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations and allocating 2% of Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine’s cultural recovery.